Carroll alums recall high school memories in this Daily Times Herald special project

Carroll High School alumni had a variety of answers when asked for a favorite high school memory, but they all agreed on one thing.

A lot has changed in Carroll during the past few decades.

From changing homecoming traditions to walking to school through snow in May to pick up report cards and eating 25-cent caramel apples from Pokey’s, alumni reminisced on their experiences.

JoAnn Vogel, a 1952 graduate, attended high school in the building that is now Adams Elementary School, housing fourth and fifth grades.

Linda Bluml and JoAnn Richardson used to love the homecoming snake dance.

Students used to hold hands and dance while forming a snake line from the high school to the stadium. After the snake dance they’d have a bonfire near the stadium.

Floyd Wilkens, Class of 1955, led his football team through an undefeated season his senior year.

Several of the alumni who graduated in the ‘50s agreed that it was a great time to be in school and it was easy to stay out of trouble back then.

“I truly feel that I grew up in the best of places in the best of times,” said Virginia Little, a 1959 graduate.

This weekend, the Class of 2013 created their own memories to hang onto once they become alumni.

The school cheered on the Carroll Tigers as the football team defeated Spencer 28-7.

This year the team was led by three seniors, Tyler Jensen, Jarret White and Keith Wiederien.

This year’s homecoming king and queen were Alex Paulsen and Brittany Holdsworth.

Lynne (Rombough) Brown

Class of 1957, lives in Denver

Job: Retired. I was a realtor for Coldwell Banker for 10 years.

Family in Carroll: My sister, Sondra Hines.

Greatest accomplishment since high school: My family. I have seven kids and eight grandchildren.

Favorite memory from high school: I had the same social studies teacher, Mr. Coyan, for four years. My senior year, in civics, I loved social studies but hated civics, he gave me a B on every assignment I did. At the end of the year, he gave me an A in the class.

Clare Kuhlman

Class of 1959, lives in Platte Woods, Mo.

Family in Carroll: An aunt and uncle, Jeanie and Earl Neu, live in Carroll.

Job: Clare is a chief engineer for International Engineering and Manufacturing. He’s been with the company since he was 26 and helped patent the Intercom Coupler System.

Biggest accomplishment since high school: I graduated from Iowa State in 1963. I got through in a hurry and took 22 hours a semester. I’ve got two really great kids and three really great grandkids.

Favorite high school memory: I think the best thing that happened to me was to have Dale Jungst as my math teacher. I still use everything he taught me every day.

Dwain Quandt

Class of 1954. lives in Portland, Ore.

Job: I’m retired. I was in land development and building. I had my own business for 25 years.

Family in Carroll: My mother, Pearl. She’s 95 years old and still going strong. I have several brothers and sisters, too.

Greatest accomplishment since high school: I’ve never missed a class reunion. But, this is my first tailgate, and it’s nice seeing everyone who was a year or two younger and older than me.

Favorite high school memory: Some of the teachers that I had. Miss Carney and Bill Chambers.

Dorothy (Kennett) Hodges

Class of 1955, Lives in Bloomington, Ill.

Job: I was an instructional media specialist for Illinois State. I did that for 18 years. I’m retired now, but I’m building libraries in South Africa. They leave me room, and I paint it and furnish all of the books. I’ve been doing that for 12 years. I’ve helped build seven libraries.

Greatest accomplishment since high school: Spending time together and the libraries. We’ve also had three sons and eight grandchildren.

Favorite memory from high school: The undefeated football season in 1955.

Virginia “Boots” Sharp Little

Class of 1959, lives in Elgin, Ill.

Greatest accomplishment since high school: Being a wife and a mother and raising my family.

Favorite memory from high school: I grew up in the best of places in the best of times.

Ron Edwards

Class of 1962, lives in Ankeny

Job: MidAmerican Energy, 37 years

Family in Carroll: Brother, Craig Edwards. My mom and dad, Cal and Arlene, were custodians here for years.

Greatest accomplishments since graduation: My family and my successful career.

Favorite memory from high school: My memories are all good. We had a lot of fun, and we never got in trouble.

Favorite High School Memory: I was track queen in 1963. I enjoyed homecoming and the proms that we used to have at the Country Club. Riding the bus in from Lidderdale every day was fun.

Bob Neumayer

Class of 1955, lives in Denver

Job: I retired from the Air Force after 21 years.

Family in Carroll: A brother Oliver who lives in Lake View.

Greatest accomplishment since high school: My Air Force career.

Favorite memory from high school: I used to be on the wrestling team.

Mary Lu Hudson Aft

Class of 1956, lives in Cincinnati, Ohio

Job: Raise money for the public library by selling used books. 24 years.

Family in Carroll: My mother, Lucille Hudson

Greatest accomplishment since high school: I’ve done so many different things and traveled to so many places — I guess having an open mind to do all of those things is my greatest accomplishment.

Favorite high school memory: I was a member of the marching band. That’s one of my favorite memories.

Ken Crouse

Class of 1962, lives in Panora

Family in Carroll: My son, Matthew, graduated from Carroll somewhere around 1985.

Job: Trucking business. I worked for Crouse Transportation Services for 50 years.

Greatest accomplishment since high school: Marrying Shari and having a family and my grandkids.

Favorite memory from high school: All of the good friends in this school, this was a good school.

Floyd Wilkens

Class of 1955, lives in Altoona

Job: I’m retired. I worked at Southeast Polk High School for 35 years coaching and a P.E. teacher and guidance counselor.

Greatest accomplishment since high school: Thinking that I helped some kids become better adults.

Favorite high school memory: Going to the state basketball tournament. Floyd was also the captain of the football team during an undefeated season and was all-state in football and basketball.

Floyd Wilkens

Class of 1955, lives in Altoona

Job: I’m retired. I worked at Southeast Polk High School for 35 years coaching and a P.E. teacher and guidance counselor.

Greatest accomplishment since high school: Thinking that I helped some kids become better adults.

Favorite high school memory: Going to the state basketball tournament. Floyd was also the captain of the football team during an undefeated season and was all-state in football and basketball.

Louise Nockels Dick

Class of 1960, lives in Goodyear, Ariz.

Job: Retired. Stock brokerage business. First Union. 20 years.

Greatest accomplishment since graduation: Raising two children that got their lives the way they should be. Within the past few years I began tap dancing again. I was a tap dancer until I was 23, then I took 40 years off, but now I’m back to performing again. I’m a member of Dance Fusion. We dance at charities events in Phoenix.

Favorite high school memory: We just had a great time with no complications.

Lloyd Drees

Class of 1955, lives in Carroll

Job: Farming. Lloyd farmed in Carroll County after high school then moved to Adair in 1967 for 35 years before he moved back to Carroll

Family in Carroll: Two sisters, Phyllis Steffen and Diane Venteicher.

Greatest accomplishment since high school: Starting out with nothing and working hard and raising four kids. One is a 23-year veteran in the Navy, and the other three are college graduates.

Favorite high school memory: Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed high school a lot, but the thing I remember most is going home and going to work.

Nancy Raridon

Class of 1962, lives in Carroll

Job: I worked at The Apothecary. Retirement is wonderful. I still help with the Alumni and Friends newsletter and help out with homecoming events.

Greatest accomplishment since high school: Raising thee wonderful daughters, Tammie, who graduated in 1983, Jill in 1984 and Holly in 1989.

Favorite memory from high school: Working on our senior yearbook. I did a lot of the graphics and design.

Jerry Lux

Class of 1954, lives in Carroll

Job: 21 years in the U.S. Air Force

Family in Carroll: My wife, Mary, and my son Gregg and his wife Denise. Denise works at Carroll High School as a special-education teacher.

Greatest accomplishment since high school: I married my wife and had four great children. I spent 41/2 years at the United States Embassy in Australia.

Favorite memory from high school: The many parties with the Class of 1955.